We all live pretty normal lives, comfortable in the reality that surrounds us. Once in awhile something very different enters into our view and forever changes how we perceive our life. Sometimes this thing is a miracle.
What is a miracle? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary it is "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs", or it is "an unusual event, thing, or accomplishment."
When you are an average middle of the road sales person in retail, it is not one of the items listed in the sales associates handbook. Although, sometimes it may feel like a miracle that you made your sales goal, or that your paycheck actually covered expenses for those two weeks you just worked.
Or it may seem like a miracle when a couple of stray bullets from a drive by shooting shatter the front windows of the store, but the salesman working at a computer display is protected from the flying glass caused by the bullets by the computer at which he is working. Some might call that luck or bad luck or a statistical probability as the store was at the edge of several gang territories. Some might say that something was bound to happen at the store.
The story I am going to relate appears to me covered more by the first part of the definition - divine intervention.
A young pre teen, perhaps twelve years old with his father came into the electronics store where I worked. They seemed like an ordinary dad and son. The boy spoke first. He appeared a little embarrassed tinged with small dose of annoyance.
"My dad wants to buy something."
"All right." I answered.
"I don't know what he wants."
I started to address the average height, dark haired, dark eyed, pleasant looking man in front of me. I thought that perhaps he didn't speak English.
The boy added quickly, "He doesn't talk."
I processed this information and then said, "Okay, I'll show him around the store" At the time there weren't any other customers in the store, so it was a good moment for that.
I lead the father and his reluctantly trailing son around the store. At the start of each of the various sections, I gave them a summary of what was in the section and then lead them through each one. I watched the man face for an indication of a hit or a miss. When I reached the correct section he seemed more interested. We moved carefully through the section until we found the item he wanted.
We went back to the register and the son completed the transaction taking his father's wallet and paying cash for the item. It had been a small but very interesting sale for me.
About two weeks later the two came back again. This time it seemed to me that the son seemed even more annoyed. We went through the same procedure as before. This time I started at the section where the father had found what he wanted. That wasn't the section that he needed this time. We were persistent and we did find the correct section and the right item that he wanted. Again his impatient son paid for it and they left.
I briefly wondered what could have caused the father's enforced silence - a stroke? He seemed too young for that. He appeared in his mid 30's at the most. And he moved normally from what I saw. The thought came and went. I had other customers to attend to.
The next time the dad was by himself. We repeated our procedure. This time he pulled out his wallet and paid for the item.
Sometimes a couple of week or a month would pass before my silent customer came back. Then he began to nod his head in agreement at everything I said or showed him. I learned to interpret his expressions. Then he would nod and utter "ugh" at everything I presented to him. Again I watched for more subtle signs that would indicate it was the right or the wrong product. He went from "ugh' to a nod and "yes".
It was as if he were in a verbal loop and yes was the one word that he could say like the "ugh" sound that he had started with. I became better at reading the subtle signs that indicated his yes was a "no" or that his yes was a "yes". He always seemed happy. He was now one of my regular customers.
Some people have difficulty dealing with other people that don't fit into the norms of appearance or action. My customers tended to be these out of the norms. They were Spanish only speakers or Asians new to the U.S. or grumpy people who never seemed to smile. I gave them mine whenever I saw them. My customers came in wheel chairs or with red tipped white canes on the arms of friends or assistants. My customers were African-Americans with attitude. My customers were the elderly whose life had slowed to a more leisurely pace. I moved casually with them. My customers were Native Americans who flitted around the perimeter of the store like Ravens that had been startled. My customers were gang bangers and ex cons on parole, who had tattoos up the wazoo and then some. They brought along their families and friends. I sold a lot of electronics.
